News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 353 - 31/08/2022
The Department for Transport (DfT) has published figures showing that national rail passenger numbers have reached a new post-pandemic milestone, with 95% of pre-COVID levels being recorded on 10th August 2022. This came in a run of seven straight days, from Saturday 6th to Friday 12th August, where 93-95% of pre-Covid passenger levels were hit every single day of the week. This was acheived in spite of industrial action in recent weeks, perhaps showing that passengers have learned to work round strikes and still use the railway when it is possible to do so. Normaly patronage would be down in August (the traditional summer season when many go on holiday) but perhaps rail is increasingly used for 'staycations'. This welcome milestone has been hit less than six months since final pandemic (Omicron) restrictions started being relaxed. See article.
British travellers are increasingly turning to the train during summer 2022 because of petrol prices (reaching £1.93 for a litre of unleaded in mid-July) and concerns about climate change have become important factors in deciding their travel plans, according to a poll of over 1,000 people commissioned by Trainline.
On 5th August 2022 Network Rail submitted a Transport and Works Act Order application to the Secretary of State for Transport for the 'Network Rail (Cambridge Re-Signalling) Order', which covers the 'C3R' re-signalling project in the South Cambridgeshire District Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and Breckland Council local authority areas.
A new Costa Coffee shop has opened at Ipswich rail station, employing seven people. Customers can enter from either the front of the station or from platform 2, and can sit down to eat and drink or take their purchase away with them.
The Mid Norfolk Railway (MNR) will run a busy Diesel weekend from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th September 2022 and feature a guest heritage locomotive (a class 20 form the Epping and Ongar Railway), a mainline one from Direct Rail Services (which us active in the region and the MNR's resident diesel locomotives. A two-train service will be in operation, hauling Mk1, Mk 2 and Mk3 train sets, the latter being former Greater Anglia cartriages. There wil also be a beer train, with beer from the Tindall Brewery of Seething, Norfolk, being sold on board. Tickets for the event will be priced at £20 for an adult Rover ticket, A senior Rover is priced at £15 with children and MNR members at £10. Two day Rover tickets are also available at £30, £25 and £20 respectively. The' Kids go Free' offer does not apply for this event.
On Tuesday 6th September from 07.30-12.00 at March station passengers can talk directly to rail managers and transport representatives during a 'Meet the manager' feedback session. Management chose March for this event because of its recert redevelopment, which has seen the interiors of the buildings completely remodelled and a new and extended car park provided. Greater Anglia, Fenland District Council's Transport Team and the Hereward Community Rail Partnership will all be present.
At the end of August, the death was announced of Peter Mayne, former chairman of the Bittern Line CRP.
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Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 353 - 31/08/2022
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